“Bogut is one of the top centers in the league, and it’s an honor and pleasure to step out there with him.”
Draymond Green rarely minces words, but it’s rare for him to give such praise even to his teammates. The narrative since Andrew Bogut’s arrival is that the Warriors can’t win a championship without the center healthy. While the team pushed the Los Angeles Clippers to 7 games last April, Bogut’s absence was a clear detriment.
-== 7 Reasons Why Stephen Curry is the NBA MVP ==-
Now, after playing 67 games during the regular season and playing the 26th most minutes amongst centers in the league, Bogut’s importance has never been clearer. There’s no tougher task in the league then Anthony Davis, and with the help of the aforementioned Green, the two combined to suffocate the superstar into the most uncomfortable 35-point game you’ll ever see.
“It’s tough,” Davis said after the Pelicans’ 106-99 loss Saturday afternoon. “You see Draymond there, and Bogut just waiting for me to come. It’s tough. We just try to adjust, start getting it at the elbow, our other big is going to be open under the basket. So you’ve just got to make adjustments and go back and watch film to see how we can be better as a unit, try to counter what they do.”
Bogut amassed 12 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks on his way towards his first playoff victory in two years. He looked spry, giddy and the healthiest he’s ever been as a Warrior, and it’s no surprise that his best season as a professional coincides with the addition of Steve Kerr and his staff, the best season this franchise has ever seen.
Despite Bogut and Green’s defensive prowess, Davis still managed to put together a monster line, which was both understandable and accepted given the outcome of the game. “It’s not one guy that’s going to stop him. He’s a tough player in this league,” Bogut said. “He’s up there with LeBron [James] and those guys. You’re not going to stop a guy like that.”
The Warriors were hardly in for a scary series, but there’s no denying Davis and his superstardom. 20 points and six rebounds was his line just in the fourth quarter alone, which put a halt to any good feelings the team had gained in the first half. When asked about the locker room mood following another near collapse in the final stanza, Bogut said “Not great. We didn’t finish the game off right. We had a great three quarters, but we mentioned after the game that most of these guys would go home thinking about this one.”
Higher expectations breed enhanced tension, all of which were noticeable in the final quarter. “You go up 23, and it’s like here we go again. This is what everybody expects,” said Green. “Then you’re up 7, and everybody’s like oh, oh. It’s really not what is expected. It’s not what everyone’s used to anymore. So it was a little weird tension, and to be expected when a team makes a run like that.”
The late run from the Pelicans almost put a damper on another stellar performance from Golden State’s own superstar, Stephen Curry, who had 34 points of his own on 13-for-25 shooting and a +/- of 20. Further proving his case for Most Valuable Player, the team looked methodical without him. The bench only scored 12 points as Curry logged only his fifth 40+ minute game of the season.
Like Davis, Curry is just an unstoppable force. Curry’s 34 points came with only four triples, and the total could’ve gone up had more calls gone in his favor. It’s a rare guard vs. big superstar bout, and Round 1 went to Curry, albeit with a few missed free throws. The Pelicans adjusted in the second half, especially on the offensive end as the Warriors also got sloppy with eight turnovers.
Using the threat of his three-point shot opens up the lane for plays like the one in the second quarter, which saw Curry go up-and-under Davis with an off-hand layup on a flick of the wrist that saw the ball nearly hit the top of the backboard. Like Davis’ fourth quarter, there are talents that can’t go matched. Curry’s layup was an example of such talents and given the numerous other abilities Curry has developed over the years, it’s unlikely the Pelicans have enough to stop him.